Anantapur: People in Red Zones a worried lot

Anantapur: People living in 15 red zones in the district are restive at what they are calling indefinite confinement to their homes as part of the district administration's containment strategy of the infamous Covid-19 virus which hit the district resulting in registering of 118 positive cases as on Wednesday.

Of the 118 positive cases, 49 of them tested negative and are discharged from the hospitals. Now, the district has 65 active cases. People, who are in the dark on how long it would take for the red zones to be declared as green zones, are feeling impatient and restive on their confinement to homes indefinitely. No wonder, the police have collected fines worth Rs 6 crore nearly from mostly restless youth for violating the lockdown norms both in red zones and non-red zones areas during the nearly two-month lockdown period.

The children and youth in red zone areas are a disappointed lot as they not only missed summer vacation joy along with their counter-parts in the nation, but being in the red zone, their freedom has been curtailed to such an extent that they cannot go to any friend or relatives house within the town in green zone areas.

One Premnath, a resident of 3rd road in PTC area, asks The Hans India on telephone how long they should suffer home confinement just because one tested positive in their locality. He also said that if anyone in red zone is tested negative, they should have freedom to come out of their houses. The common complaint from among the people is that they are being kept in the dark on when their locality's status will change from red to green zone.

Speaking to The Hans India, District Forest Officer R Jaganath Singh, who is also the officer in-charge of containment zones, made it clear that once a person is tested positive, he would be in quarantine for 14 days and even if he or she tested negative, they will be kept under observation for another 28 days in the containment zones.

The total number of days that a zone will remain in red is 45 days. On the supplies of milk, water, vegetables and provisions in red zone areas, he said the ward volunteers in urban areas and village volunteers in rural areas will supply all items at their doorstep.

In case of any need or problem, they can always dial the numbers pasted on every door for remedies. All shops including medical shops are closed in red zones. In case someone needed to draw money from their banks, then mobile ATMs are pressed into service in the containment zones.

On the health security of stake holders working in the containment zones, Singh said the police, sanitary workers, medical staff and ANM and Asha workers are being well equipped by supply of masks, gloves and sanitisers.

Also every house is being supplied with face masks at the rate of 3 masks for each. On complaints of non-supply of the masks in any area, it should be brought to the notice of the concerned Tahsildhar or the local village or ward volunteer.

District Collector Gandham Chandrudu told The Hans India that he is optimistic that the district will revert back to green zone as no stone remained unturned in the war against the dreaded Covid-19 virus.